Michael Fabiano (10:53:11 AM): I think LaDainian Tomlinson is at the end of the road. Norv Turner is nuts if he thinks L.T. can handle 325 carries this season.

Craig Ellenport (10:53:30 AM): DEAD WRONG. L.T. loves to be challenged, so he'll thrive on those of you who think he's washed up.

Michael Fabiano (10:54:31 AM): Would A.J. Smith not rather have Michael Turner right now? Yes he would.

Craig Ellenport (10:55:15 AM): Well, the Chargers have been wrong before. And think about this: When you rush for 1,110 yards and 11 TDs and it's considered the beginning of the end, that's saying something.

On his worst season.... he got 1,110 yards and 11 touchdowns.
That's also with the consideration that he had a bad toe, our O line has gone to s***, and our HC still hasn't figured out how to utilize more than one RB in a season!!!

Well... by "elite fantasy back" what are we talking? Top 3, top 5, top 10?

I think LT still has the ability to go for 1,500 yards and 15 TDs. However, I think that circumstances are going to prevent him from putting up "elite" fantasy numbers.

We actually have some bulldozers at FB and RB and the Martyball days are long gone. We're never going to see three straight hand-offs to LT when we've got a first down on the two yard line. Other guys are going to be getting the rock in goal line situations.

Furthermore, I expect the coaching staff will be tracking LTs carries per game and trying to keep from riding him too hard. No more 30+ touches a game, which means fewer yards and fewer TDs. We simply have too much depth at the tailback position and we're too concerned about his health for LT to get the same exposure he's had in years past. I'm expecting similar numbers to those he put up last year, even if he's healthy for the full season.

If the Chargers light up the skies throwing ball all over the joint and they win games, then Bombs away. If the other team stacks the line to stop LT, and Philip starts throwing it and we move up and down the field, keep LT the decoy in the backfield all game! If the other team tries to stop LT and Sproles just has a field day with them, use LT as a decoy all game. What we don’t need is someone to come in here complaining because LT did not get 2 more yards in a game and touchdown to get 6 more points in his stats!

If the Chargers light up the skies throwing ball all over the joint and they win games, then Bombs away. If the other team stacks the line to stop LT, and Philip starts throwing it and we move up and down the field, keep LT the decoy in the backfield all game! If the other team tries to stop LT and Sproles just has a field day with them, use LT as a decoy all game. What we don’t need is someone to come in here complaining because LT did not get 2 more yards in a game and touchdown to get 6 more points in his stats!

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True and false. I agree we need to strike when we can as we can. However there are a lot a nay sayers who will take that as an indication that the Chargers have no faith in LT, or there are some who will start bashing the coaching staff for 'misusing' LT in your situation.

What we need is to pull the guard and open the holes. Keep the attack balanced. There is no need for LT to set rushing records, just do his part to keep the O on the field.

If the Chargers light up the skies throwing ball all over the joint and they win games, then Bombs away. If the other team stacks the line to stop LT, and Philip starts throwing it and we move up and down the field, keep LT the decoy in the backfield all game! If the other team tries to stop LT and Sproles just has a field day with them, use LT as a decoy all game. What we don’t need is someone to come in here complaining because LT did not get 2 more yards in a game and touchdown to get 6 more points in his stats!

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Likewise, we don't need PR trying to throw even more and rack up more INT stats just to get a few extra yards to try to lead the league in garbage yards like Jay Cutler was racking up last year against prevent defenses. We also don't need to get into the endzone the hard way when we have maybe the most prolific scorer in the history of the game on the roster who can get the ball into the endzone a multitude of ways and almost never turns the ball over.

We had an injured RB last year and that contributed to an 8-8 record. This offense is best when the rushing attack is lethal and we have balance between the two....sort of like the 90's Cowboys that Norv used to be OC for. We've had success being both a dominant running team and a dominant passing team....Now we can meet in the middle.

With the improvement of PR and the passing game...and a rushing attack back healthy, I don't think anyone will be complaining much if we finally get some luck with injuries this year (knock on wood).

Likewise, we don't need PR trying to throw even more and rack up more INT stats just to get a few extra yards to try to lead the league in garbage yards like Jay Cutler was racking up last year against prevent defenses. We also don't need to get into the endzone the hard way when we have maybe the most prolific scorer in the history of the game on the roster who can get the ball into the endzone a multitude of ways and almost never turns the ball over.

We had an injured RB last year and that contributed to an 8-8 record. This offense is best when the rushing attack is lethal and we have balance between the two....sort of like the 90's Cowboys that Norv used to be OC for. We've had success being both a dominant running team and a dominant passing team....Now we can meet in the middle.

With the improvement of PR and the passing game...and a rushing attack back healthy, I don't think anyone will be complaining much if we finally get some luck with injuries this year (knock on wood).

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But that injured back made Philip throw the ball. And the other teams knew it. Plus with Antonio Gates injured well we all know the ending.

This year everyone comes back healthy!!!!!!!!

Stack the Line to stop LT and Philip will tear you up on those quick slants. Respect the slant and LT should tear them up on the outside!

It all sounds good, right now, lets just hope that we play like we SHOULD!!!!!!!!!!!

But that injured back made Philip throw the ball. And the other teams knew it. Plus with Antonio Gates injured well we all know the ending.

This year everyone comes back healthy!!!!!!!!

Stack the Line to stop LT and Philip will tear you up on those quick slants. Respect the slant and LT should tear them up on the outside!

It all sounds good, right now, lets just hope that we play like we SHOULD!!!!!!!!!!!

Thats why I dont like all those fantasy Leagues.

I want real league wins with Lombardis!!!!!!!!

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I think it's safe to say we all want real wins and lombardi's

But the original argument was, is LT still a first round pick in a fantasy draft? Will he still get you the type of numbers you need to be competitive and win in a fantasy football league? To which the answer is obviously yes :yes:

I'd imagine for most fans it's Real team 1st, Fantasy league 2nd. All I know is it sure makes some of those other games played on Sunday more fun to watch when I have something invested in them besides just the final result. :icon_shrug:

But the original argument was, is LT still a first round pick in a fantasy draft? Will he still get you the type of numbers you need to be competitive and win in a fantasy football league? To which the answer is obviously yes :yes:

I'd imagine for most fans it's Real team 1st, Fantasy league 2nd. All I know is it sure makes some of those other games played on Sunday more fun to watch when I have something invested in them besides just the final result. :icon_shrug:

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Okay, lets say you draft someone on to your fantasy team, that player gets cut, then winds up on the Raiders, are you going to cheer him on?

I don't think anyone on the Raiders is worth drafting. I don't believe that I ever had a Raider on any of my FF teams. :lol:

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I didn’t say that, What I said was, lets just imagine that in the preseason you draft a full team for your fantasy football league. After the last preseason game, a member of your fantasy football league team is cut by the team that he was playing for.

I didn’t say that, What I said was, lets just imagine that in the preseason you draft a full team for your fantasy football league. After the last preseason game, a member of your fantasy football league team is cut by the team that he was playing for.

The Raiders immediately sign him to a contract.

Do you root for that guy?

Or do you cut him and get someone else.

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Current team, maybe cut him if he cant get points. If he can get points for your FF team, then keep him.

It doesnt make you his fan, it means you are trying to get points for your make believe team...

But that injured back made Philip throw the ball. And the other teams knew it. Plus with Antonio Gates injured well we all know the ending.

This year everyone comes back healthy!!!!!!!!

Stack the Line to stop LT and Philip will tear you up on those quick slants. Respect the slant and LT should tear them up on the outside!

It all sounds good, right now, lets just hope that we play like we SHOULD!!!!!!!!!!!

Thats why I dont like all those fantasy Leagues.

I want real league wins with Lombardis!!!!!!!!

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I don't think many people here put LT or PR's fantasy stats over the team itself......well....aside from possibly those NC State fans who really just adopted the Chargers because of PR.....but in either case, a successfull fantasy year for LT and PR translates well to the success of this team.

I guarantee you that Marty Schottenheimer of all people was not feeding LT the ball 400+ times a year (passing and receiving) to try to boost his stats....Marty at least knew that he had the most devastating offensive weapon in football on his team at the time and he rode it to a 14-2 record.....This team was not balanced enough for the playoffs however and the lack of development of our 1st year QB and receivers was exposed in the Patriots game in 2006....a game which we should have dominated.

Likewise, last year when we show up in Pittsburgh and can't run the ball an inch, we were doomed against a stout defense that makes adjustments well.

Initially, I didn't like what we were doing with the offense...moving away from a run oriented team....but I recognize now that it needed to be done...and we needed to go through some growing pains to turn PR into a top tier QB and have a fluid passing attack....We have a team that is far better prepared now to exploit defenses than ever before....If healthy, this offense can be absolutely lethal and only the Patriots rival the kind of weaponry we bring to the table.

I didn’t say that, What I said was, lets just imagine that in the preseason you draft a full team for your fantasy football league. After the last preseason game, a member of your fantasy football league team is cut by the team that he was playing for.

The Raiders immediately sign him to a contract.

Do you root for that guy?

Or do you cut him and get someone else.

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I cut him. The Raiders as a team are so bad that anyone who plays for them has no fantasy value. Just ask Javon Walker.